Mazen Rizk’s Post

How can we innovate to advance the sustainability of food systems? 🥕 Addressing this pivotal challenge has been at the forefront of our endeavors. This week marked significant milestones for WTCI. During our first-ever Global Innovation Summit on Wednesday, our CEO, Eddie Resende, alongside Daniel Saunders, CEO of L Marks, unveiled the inaugural cohort for the Maryland Innovation Lab. We are proud to share that Pompeian Olive Oil, Sodexo USA, and SIMPLi are the pioneering group of companies driving this new venture! The Maryland Innovation Lab is the first of its kind in the U.S. and is part of the state’s Global Gateway Program. This initiative attracts international businesses and eases their transition into the U.S. market by bridging connections with local companies. In a world grappling with sustainability challenges, the theme for the first cohort is sustainable food systems. Specifically, how can we improve food packaging, processing, logistics, supply chains, agriculture, and distribution. Leveraging the collective strengths of Pompeian, Sodexo, SIMPLi, and a cohort of pioneering global startups, we're on a mission to develop disruptive solutions right here in Maryland. Our ultimate goal is to reduce food and packaging waste and bolster the resilience of food supply chains, while growing economic impact and quality jobs in the sector. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this initiative! Thank you to the many partners involved in launching this groundbreaking initiative for global innovation in Maryland. Iayana Elie, Jake Pincombe, Jessica Reynolds, Heather Gramm, CEcD Kristin Lewis, Julie Graham, Wally Pinkard, Jim Casey, MBA, CPA, Sarela Herrada, Matthew Cohen, Tammi Thomas, and Troy LeMaile-Stovall, NACD.DC, TEDCO, Maryland Department of Commerce #MarylandInnovationLab #foodsustainability #GlobalGatewayProgram #supplychain

Internationally positioned with the latest solutions, pioneering technologies and sustainable impulses for your success, the #AnugaFoodTec2024 in Cologne from 19 - 22 March 2024 has once again opened its doors. With its top theme "Responsibility" Anuga FoodTec 2024 is placing the focus on the necessity for a sustainable transformation, supported by innovative solutions and a comprehensive energy transition. The event covers all aspects of food and beverage production - from process technology and filling and packaging technology to food safety, packaging, digitalisation and intralogistics, and the place to be to discover innovative products, responsible solutions and become part of change. Come join our EIT Food Accelerator Network startups Kynda, Koralo and Cultivated Biosciences, as well as EIT Food portfolio startup Pack2Earth and EIT Food RisingFoodStars Alberts and SwissDeCode at Anuga FoodTec on Thursday at 10:30 at the Innovation stage! On the Innovation Stage the focus is on looking into the future and how will we produce our food and beverages of tomorrow. Themes include the latest developments in extrusion technology, sustainability approaches along the food value creation chain, growth markets, meat alternatives and plant-based drinks, big data, cybersecurity, as well as predictive maintenance etc. Sustainability is a main factor in the food supply chain. Startups, science, organisations and innovative companies will present their approaches, providing the "out-of-the-box thinking" which is necessary to establish a responsible future along the value chain. Topics include packaging trends, recycling, sustainable production technologies, alternative protein sources, digitalisation, global supply chains, and tapping into new trends and international markets. #anugafoodtec #anugafoodtec2024 #foodsystemtransformation #startupacceleration #agrifoodtechinnovation Marie Russier, Samantha Gadenne, Marie Brueser, Dr. Christoph Mandl, 🍄Daniel MacGowan von Holstein, 🍄 Franziskus Schnabel, Sina Albanese, Guido Albanese, Ph.D., Tomas Turner and Dimitri Zogg

The challenges we're taking on with #FoodTech are immense, and no one can do it alone. Game-changing solutions require bringing together the best minds across the space, from daring entrepreneurs, to brilliant scientists, investors, industry leaders, academics, regulators and more. Proud that PeakBridge VC is increasingly becoming the glue bringing them together. EIT Food Edmond de Rothschild Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management StartLife Start-Up Nation Central The Good Food Institute The Kitchen Hub Sweden Foodtech TechFood Magazine KM ZERO Food Innovation Hub NC Food Innovation Lab

Last week, Erika Weinefors, our Head of Strategic Projects & Partnerships, took the stage to showcase how Mycorena's cutting-edge technical solutions can revolutionize the upcycling of side streams in the food industry. Joining her was Catarina Englund from The Green Dairy , a true pioneer in the circular approach, who's championing the valorization of oat and faba bean side streams from their plant-based dairy production.  The presentations were held in the event "To make business of side streams" organized by the project Cirkulär utvecklingshubb för livsmedel. This visionary project unites thirteen diverse stakeholders from network clusters, academia, municipalities, and regions, all committed to raising awareness, fostering collaboration, and supporting the transformation of our food system toward greater sustainability through circular practices. The project is made possible thanks to funding from the European Union and Region Skåne. Our sincere thanks go out to Packbridge, with support from IUC Syd, Livsmedelsakademin, and Krinova Incubator & Science Park, for arranging an interesting and engaging event. Numerous insightful questions, reflections, and innovative ideas surfaced, highlighting the untapped potential in developing further circular systems and the advantages they offer! We're eager to play our part in this essential transition towards a more sustainable future🌱🌍 #Sustainability #FutureFood #CircularEconomy #Innovation #Collaboration #FoodSystem

🌟Exciting days with the ScaleNL Connect Chicago cohort🌟 The trip to Chicago with the Connect cohort of founders has started with a whirlwind of experiences. Highlights so far: 🤝 Immersing ourselves in the world of food ingredients at #IFTFirst conference where invaluable knowledge was gained and connections made. The group connected with Royal Ingredients Group B.V. Holland to see firsthand the innovative products and solutions this Dutch company with a Chicago HQ, offers the industry worldwide. The day ended with a warm reception dinner at the home of the Dutch Consul General of Chicago. We were honored to be in the presence of distinguished guests and for the opportunity to network and share ideas within a like-minded community. Day 2️⃣ was just as exciting with visits to two incredibly successful companies. At Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, a producer of all-natural vanilla, we gained insights into their manufacturing process, the distinctive supply chains of vanilla crops, and the delightful range of flavor profiles found in origin-specific vanilla. It's worth noting that 25 years ago, this family-owned Illinois company made the decision to establish their sole international plant in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, to meet global demands by operating on both sides of the Atlantic. From there the group headed to the incredible Farm Foundation, a hub for growers who are exploring regenerative agriculture methods and conducting experiments with innovative grains. 👨🌾 👉 Stay tuned for more updates as we continue our dynamic journey with the ScaleNL Connect Chicago cohort. Together, these startups are shaping the future of agri-food! Consulate General of the Netherlands in Chicago | Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) | Rabobank | 1-2-Taste | FUL Foods  | Greencovery | Elfsquad |PEAX Data | Sensip-dx | revyve | SoilBeat | PectCof B.V. | OneThird #ScaleNLConnect #FoodInnovation #Collaboration #Networking #InnovationEcosystem #DutchEnterprise #FutureofFood

#Shareability drives Food Revolution 2.0 At Anuga, I talked about how we can reach the next level of successful food innovation management. The video clip below gives you an impression of the strong public interest. WHAT key competency do companies need to have to benefit from the next wave of growth? SHAREABILITY „Shareability is the ability to network broadly, to show honest and sincere openness to share complementary resources and competencies with others on an equal level.“ What strengths does a company need to be a SHAREBILITY champion? 🚀 The Power of Networks 🚀 The Power of Digitization 🚀 The Power of Disruption Following exciting tips and inspiring conversations, I added further insights to my presentation. If you are interested please send me a DM or post your comment below. Sharing is Caring. #SHAREABILITY #FoodInnovation #FutureOfFood

Beyond honored! 🌿 🌍 💡 Axfoundation takes home the prestigious award Livsmedelspriset by Livsmedel i fokus! “Receiving the award is an honor and a source of pride, both for all the amazing colleagues at Axfoundation and for our 300 partners! The award also gives us a substantial boost of energy, which can be quite handy as we persistently continue to develop practical innovations that contribute to solving complex sustainability challenges related to the things we buy, the food we eat, and the resources we use," says Maria Smith, Secretary-General at Axfoundation. #livsmedelspriset #livsmedelifokus #innovations #sustainability #sustainabilityaward #futurefood #thefutureoffood #framtidensmat #cirkulärekonomi #circulareconomy #hållbarproduktion #hållbarkonsumtion #torsåkerfarm #torsåkergård #acttoinspire #inspiretoact

What an incredible night it was at the newFOODeconomy Award ceremony! We were thrilled to honor the groundbreaking food concepts from all across Europe that are reshaping the future of our food industry. 🍽️ Spotlighting the true game-changers of tomorrow, we recognized innovators, startups, and projects based in the EU, all united by one key criterion - "Innovation." Their unwavering commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future. 🌍 Here's a glimpse of the three remarkable categories we celebrated: 🌟 Best Newcomer: Klim is making waves in the market with their revolutionary products and services. They're the rising stars of the food industry, and we can't wait to see where they'll take us next! 🌟 Best Evolutioner: Rügenwalder Mühle Carl Müller GmbH & Co. KG has boldly entered the market, reshaping their products or services to embrace innovation. Their transformation is a testament to the adaptability and resilience of the industry. 🌟 Best Visionary: constellr brings exciting ideas and approaches to the table, proving that a successful market launch isn't always a prerequisite for greatness. They inspire us all with their boundless creativity and forward-thinking mindset. Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating these incredible achievements. The future of food is in good hands, and we can't wait to see the impact these winners will have on our world. Check out our video to relive the full highlights! #FoodInnovation #AnugaHORIZON #FutureOfFood #newFOODeconomy 

🚨 News alert 🚨 We’re excited to strengthen our years-long partnership with Planet A Foods! World Fund first invested in 2021, when they were known as the QOA Company - and when we hadn’t even launched publicly yet. Today, we announce that we’ve led their $15.4 million Series A round - continuing our collaboration with Dr. Sara Marquart, Dr. Maximilian Marquart and their outstanding team. The rising demand for cocoa products and decreasing productivity of cocoa harvests are major drivers of deforestation, crucially in tropical forests, which are some of our planet's most important carbon sinks. Planet A Foods’ fermentation technology is removing cocoa from chocolate. Cocoa, in its current form, is driving up its price to be more expensive than caviar – and becoming more expensive because of climate change - which is endangering production areas, alongside inflation-driven transportation cost increases. They have developed scalable technology that tackles supply chain issues and helps prevent deforestation. Max, Sara and co have not only invented a tasty product with immense carbon performance potential - but the business is also thriving commercially. Last year, Planet A Foods locked in commercial partnerships with REWE, Peter Kölln GmbH & Co. KGaA and Lufthansa, with many more to come. Huge shoutout to our co-investors Cherry Ventures, Omnes, Mudcake (prev. Trellis Road), Nucleus Capital, Feast Ventures and TriplePoint Capital. Read more about Planet A Foods here: Sadia Nowshin's piece for Sifted - https://bit.ly/3SpgjH3 Christine Hall's piece for TechCrunch - https://bit.ly/3HDETPo #foodtech #climatetech #marketing 

Join us today at the Future Food-Tech Conference in London to meet our CEO, Hadar Ekhoiz Razmovich, and CSO, Tali Feldman- Sivan (PhD)! 🌱✨ See you there! Meala Foodtech #FutureFoodTech #FoodTech #Innovation #Sustainability"